Powerball rules & odds
Read Powerball rules, number ranges, drawing schedules and jackpot odds. Compare current and historical game formats.
CURRENT GAME FORMAT
How Powerball works
- White balls
- Pick 5 numbers from 1–69
- Powerball
- Pick 1 number from 1–26
- Standard ticket price
- $2
- Draw days
- Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
- Drawing time
- 10:59 PM ET
- Effective from
- August 23, 2021
Ticket options and exceptions
Multiplier options and prize amounts follow the rules for each drawing. Some prize tiers may use a fixed amount. The prize tables show reported option amounts with any applicable multiplier already included.
Optional add-on: Power Play ($1). Availability depends on the applicable rules and jurisdiction.
Idaho and Montana bundle Power Play: minimum USD 3.00 per play.
Claim deadlines, eligibility, sales cutoffs, option availability and prize treatment depend on jurisdiction. California may use different prize treatment. Confirm with the official lottery before playing or making a claim.
Exact match probabilities
Current rule · one combination| Match exactly | Probability | Approximate odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 white balls + Powerball | 3.422e-7% | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 white balls, no Powerball | 0.000008556% | 1 in 11,688,053.52 |
| 4 white balls + Powerball | 0.0001095% | 1 in 913,129.18 |
| 4 white balls, no Powerball | 0.002738% | 1 in 36,525.17 |
| 3 white balls + Powerball | 0.006899% | 1 in 14,494.11 |
| 3 white balls, no Powerball | 0.1725% | 1 in 579.76 |
| 2 white balls + Powerball | 0.1426% | 1 in 701.33 |
| 1 white ball + Powerball | 1.087% | 1 in 91.98 |
| 0 white balls + Powerball | 2.609% | 1 in 38.32 |
Rule history
Why rule periods stay separate →| Effective dates | Pools | Draw days | Multiplier format | Explore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2021 – Present | 69 / 26 | Mon, Wed, Sat | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| Oct 7, 2015 – Aug 22, 2021 | 69 / 26 | Wed, Sat | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| Jan 22, 2014 – Oct 6, 2015 | 59 / 35 | Wed, Sat | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |
| Jan 18, 2012 – Jan 21, 2014 | 59 / 35 | Wed, Sat | Fixed prizes | Statistics for these rules → |
| Feb 3, 2010 – Jan 17, 2012 | 59 / 39 | Wed, Sat | See official rules | Statistics for these rules → |